Glossary of Alcoholics Anonymous Terms and Organizations
Following is a Glossary of Alcoholics Anonymous Terms and Organizations, selected explanations and definitions of terms about and/or useful to our Alcoholics Anonymous community.
Please note that more information about the definitions in Sections 1 through 4 are covered in more depth in the AA Service Manual
Table of Contents
I. Foundational Principles & Texts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| The Twelve Steps | The core program of recovery; spiritual principles designed to help members maintain sobriety and lead a new way of life. |
| The Twelve Traditions | Guiding principles for groups, outlining how they maintain unity, relate to the world, and remain self-supporting. |
| The Twelve Concepts | Guidelines for the administrative and decision-making procedures of AA’s world service structure. |
| Big Book | The basic text of the fellowship, formally titled Alcoholics Anonymous, containing principles, history, and recovery stories. |
| Twelve & Twelve | A common nickname for the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, providing detailed explanations of both sets of principles. |
| Anonymity | A principle ensuring confidentiality and equality. It prevents public affiliation in media and protects privacy within meeting rooms. |
| Higher Power (HP) | A spiritual entity or force members turn to for guidance; the concept is personal, non-denominational, and self-defined. |
II. People & Service Positions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | An experienced member who shares their recovery journey with a Sponsee on a 1-on-1 basis to help them work the Steps. |
| Newcomer | An individual who is new to the AA fellowship or recovery in general. |
| Old-Timer | A member with many years of continuous sobriety. |
| Home Group | The specific AA group where a member regularly attends and participates in business and voting. |
| GSR | General Service Representative: An elected member who links their Home Group to the district and area levels. |
| Trusted Servant | A term for those in service positions (GSRs, committee members), emphasizing that they serve the group and do not govern. |
III. Meetings & Milestones
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Open Meeting | A meeting open to anyone interested in recovery, including non-alcoholics (family, students, observers). |
| Closed Meeting | A meeting reserved exclusively for those who have a desire to stop drinking. |
| Discussion Meeting | A meeting where members discuss a specific topic chosen by the leader or the group. |
| Speaker Meeting | A meeting where members share their personal story (what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now). |
| Anniversary | A celebration of continuous sobriety milestones. Members often receive a Chip or Medallion. |
| Seventh Tradition | The principle of being fully self-supporting. A basket is typically passed for voluntary member contributions. |
IV. Service Structure & Governance
| Entity | Role & Definition |
|---|---|
| District | A localized geographical subdivision of an Area. It facilitates communication directly between neighboring groups via the DCM (District Committee Member). |
| Area | A larger regional link (e.g., a state or province) between local groups and the global structure. Led by an Area Delegate. |
| GSC | General Service Conference: The primary governing body for AA in the U.S./Canada, where Delegates vote on fellowship policy. |
| GSO | General Service Office: The administrative hub in New York responsible for coordinating groups and literature. |
| AAWS | AA World Services: The corporate entity that manages the GSO and oversees literature publication. |
| Intergroup | Local service offices that coordinate meetings and help lines for a specific city or region. |
| Al-Anon / Alateen | Separate sister fellowships for friends and family (Al-Anon) or young people (Alateen) affected by another’s drinking. |
| The Grapevine | AA’s monthly magazine, often described as the “meeting in print.” |
V. Technology & Digital Resources
National A.A. Technology Workshop (NAATW)
An annual service event focused on the ethical and practical use of technology (websites, online meetings, digital payments) to carry the AA message while remaining compliant with the Traditions.
Code for Recovery (C4R)
A non-profit volunteer organization that provides free, open-source technology solutions for the recovery community.
- Key Project: The Twelve Step Meeting List (TSML) WordPress plugin.
- Data Standard: They maintain the Meeting Guide JSON specification to help different apps display meeting info consistently.
TIAA-Forum.org
An independent online forum where members share best practices for using technology in AA service. It is self-supporting and unaffiliated with the GSO.
Meeting Guide
The system and data format used to aggregate meeting information from local Intergroups. It powers the official Meeting Guide App (by AAWS), helping users find accurate, real-time meeting data.
Everything AA (App)
An unofficial, third-party mobile app that centralizes AA tools including digital literature, daily readings, and sobriety calculators.
Note: This app is not Conference-approved literature and is not affiliated with AA World Services, Inc.
VI. Specialized Service Committees & Outreach
These committees focus on “carrying the message” to specific populations or the public.
Term Definition PI Public Information: A committee dedicated to providing accurate AA information to the general public and media to prevent misunderstandings of the program. CPC Cooperation with the Professional Community: A committee that provides information about AA to professionals (doctors, lawyers, clergy, etc.) who work with alcoholics. Grapevine AA’s monthly magazine, often called “our meeting in print.” It features stories of recovery written by members. AAWS AA World Services, Inc.: The corporate body responsible for the GSO and the publication/distribution of all AA literature.
VII. Technology & Digital Fellowship
These groups and terms focus on the intersection of AA’s Twelve Traditions and the digital age.
Term Definition OIAA Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous: A service entity that supports and lists online AA meetings globally, helping digital groups stay connected to the service structure. C4R Code for Recovery: A volunteer group providing open-source technology (like meeting list plugins) to help recovery organizations manage data. NAATW National AA Technology Workshop: An annual event where members share experience on using technology (websites, apps, hybrid meetings) to support AA. GIA-AA Get into Action Committee for AA: An initiative focused on modernizing AA to improve accessibility across different platforms. Contact
getintoactioncommittee@gmail.com
AAinVR AA in Virtual Reality: A community that hosts AA meetings within virtual reality environments, utilizing avatars and immersive digital spaces for fellowship.
VIII. Specialized Workshops & Events
Events designed to reach specific communities within the larger fellowship.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| NAAAW | National Alcoholics Anonymous Archives Workshop: An annual event focused on the unique needs and experiences of Archivist members in recovery. |